A remote management controller is provided for use in conjunction with a managed host computer. The remote management controller exposes a virtual network interface controller, such as a driverless virtual USB network interface controller, to the managed host computer. Through the in-band connection provided by the virtual network interface controller, the remote management controller can communicate with in-band management applications executing on the managed host computer. The managed host computer can also access services executing on the remote management controller through the in-band communications interface. The remote management controller can also enable communication between the management client computer and in-band management applications executing on the managed host computer. The managed host computer can also access an out-of-band communications network between the remote management device and a management client computer.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method for enabling communication with an in-band management application executing on a managed host computer comprising a first physical network interface controller via which the in-band management application communicates with a management client computer through an in-band communications channel, the method comprising: establishing a connection between a the remote management controller and the management client computer through an out-of-band communications channel, via a second physical network interface controller of the remote management controller exposing a third physical network interface controller of the remote management controller to the managed host computer; and enabling communication between the management client computer and the in-band management application executing on the managed host computer through the out-of-band communications channel, via the second physical network interface controller and the third physical network interface controller of the remote management controller, such as to enable direct communication between the management client computer and the managed host computer through each of the out-of-band communications channel and the in-band communications channel, wherein the management client computer is configured to communicate with the in-band management application via: a first communications path comprising the first physical network interface controller and the in-band communications channel; and a second communication path comprising the second physical network interface controller, the third physical network interface controller, and the out-of-band communications channel.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third physical network interface controller comprises a virtual universal serial bus network interface controller.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote management controller is further configured to provide an Internet protocol address to the third physical network interface controller.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising accessing, by way of the third physical network interface controller, one or more services provided by the remote management controller.
5. A remote management apparatus for enabling communication with an in-band management application executing on a managed host computer comprising a first physical network interface controller configured to communicate with a management client computer through an in-band communications channel, the apparatus comprising: a second physical network interface controller for establishing a connection to the management client computer via an out-of-band communications channel; a central processing unit; and a firmware executable by the central processing unit which, when executed, causes the apparatus to expose a third physical network interface controller to the managed host computer to establish a connection to the management client computer via the second physical network interface and to enable communication between the management client computer and the in-band management application through the out-of-band communications channel, such that direct communication between the management client computer and the managed host computer is enabled through each of the out-of-band communications channel and the in-band communications channel, such that direct communication between the management client computer and the managed host computer is enabled through each of the out-of-band communications channel and the in-band communications channel, wherein the management client computer is configured to communicate with the in-band management application via: a first communications path comprising the first physical network interface controller and the in-band communications channel; and a second communication path comprising the second physical network interface controller, the third physical network interface controller, and the out-of-band communications channel.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the third physical network interface controller comprises a virtual universal serial bus network interface controller.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the firmware is further configured when executed to provide a network address to the virtual universal serial bus network interface controller.
8. A system for managing a managed host computer, the system comprising: a managed host computer executing one or more in-band management applications, the managed host computer comprising a first physical network interface controller configured to enable communication communicating with the in-band management applications through an in-band communications channel; a management client computer executing a management client, the management client configured to connect to the managed host computer executing the in-band management applications through the in-band communications channel; and a remote management controller communicatively coupled to the managed host computer, the remote management controller comprising a second physical network interface controller and a third physical network interface controller, the second physical network interface controller configured to enable communication with the management client through an out-of-band communications channel, and wherein the remote management controller is configured to expose the third physical network interface controller to the managed host computer to establish a connection to the management client via the second physical network interface and to enable communication between the management client and the in-band management applications through the out-of-band communications channel, such that direct communication is enabled between the management client and the managed host computer through each of the out-of-band communications channel and the in-band communications channel, wherein the management client computer is configured to communicate with the in-band management application via: a first communications path comprising the first physical network interface controller and the in-band communications channel; and a second communication path comprising the second physical network interface controller, the third physical network interface controller, and the out-of-band communications channel.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the third physical network interface controller comprises a virtual universal serial bus network interface controller.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the remote management controller is further configured to assign a network address to the virtual universal serial bus network interface controller.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein an operating system executing on the managed host computer is configured to access one or more services executing on the remote management controller.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the management client computer is further configured to communicate with the in-band management application via the second communication path, the second communication path further comprising an in-band communications interface between the remote management controller and the in-band management application.
13. The system of claim 8 , further comprising an in-band communications interface between the remote management controller and the in-band management applications.
14. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a communications network between the second physical network interface controller and the management client computer, and between the first physical network interface controller and the management client computer.
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May 31, 2007
January 3, 2012
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